Charging device



July 15, 1930. '5 w sou ET AL CHARGING DEVI CE Filed Nov. 21,- 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet .m m n N QT ea g u p n9 W 5 a w o D '1 o o m m g II F THHHIIIIIHIIIII a l 1 m v M Q n Q3 W @M R $8 a 0 y 5 MN 0 o 0 mm n q m aw a E e ,9 o uS ON 8 N2 0 m.%\. 0 m2 9% y 15, 1930- E. H. WILSON Efl' AL 1,770,446

CHARGING DEVICE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1925 mm @X T M TH ML III s R m w m July 15, 1930. w sbu E AL CHARGING DEVICE Filed NOV. 21

, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 EnsmvH. WILSON 19055 7 WSGHl/ETTE Ej l July 15, 1930. .w 5bN ET AL CHARGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 QN R w v aw R7. M 7 5 95 M2 EX 1930; WILSON ET AL I 1,770,446

CHARGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Lr /kfLf k E x S T r .%w M w T a Rm NR 0 July 15, 1930. E. H. WILSON ET AL CHARGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 m 15, 0. H LSQNETAL. 1 770,44

CHARGING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet m A IJYVEIYTOR 71 EDGHRH M/ILSOIY 70 HZ-rx ROBERT W SCI-#157775 July 15, 1930. E, w so ET AL CHARGING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 21, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS EEG/ii? H. VWL-S'O/Y ROBfRT W 50/41/5775 mw m.

Patented July 15, 1932i siren s e EDGAR H. wILson, or runner/r, Ann nonnnr w. scarier-re, or MUNI-IALL, Penn. SYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS To TAYLOR-WILSON MANUFACTURING 00., or McKEES ROCKS, PENNSYLVAIIIA, A QGRPOBATION G1 PENEISYLVANIA CHARGZWG DEVICE Application filedNovember 21, 1925. Serial No. 70,492.

scale, rust, oil and other and similar foreign--.

matters. The drives may also be entirely enclosed in such frame. lhis makes for amore compact and self-contained'unit. The truck portions of the unit may also be housed there in and form rigid parts of the structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel charger adapted to travel before a line or battery of furnaces in which the char er ma charge or ro'ect metal ieces" such as strips of iron and the like, selectively in the furnaces. I

The lnvention also comprehends, asa feature thereof, the provision of a novel means for shifting or moving the plecesor strips to a be charged into the furnace, from asupporting or charging position to a charging rotor or wheel whereby thelat-ter mayseize the same and cast or charge the piece or strip into the furnace. This shifting or moving means preferably is located between the charging motor and the door'of the furnace and such that it may be moved, when carrying or moving the piece or strip toward the rotor, in direction towardlthe furnace or charging direction, while at the same time moving the piece or strip toward the roller for charging engagement therewith. In this way the piece or strip to be charged is given an initial movementin the direction of charge-so that the seizing of the strip by the rotor will be aided by this component movement, thus avoiding the necessity ofovercoming the iner: tia in .a strip of skelp if the same were being moved toward the wheel without this initial component movement in the direction of chargeor if the strip were moving in'an opposite direction. Moving the strips in the direction disclosed by this invention, will also aid 1n lift ng or separating the strips'one from the other to disengage any shear hooksw 1 or burrs'upon the ends of the strips, which.

mighttend to prevent the easy disengagement of a strip from another when operating to move the strip toward the rotor. Such 'movement will also aid in breaking any adherence that might occur between the strips owing tothe same being coated with viscous substances, such as oil. In other words,the strip is given a sliding movementas it'is drawn or moved toward the wheel so that an efficient movement of the same may be had and also an efiiclent selzmg of the same by:

the rotor. 1

The shiftingmeans or mechanism is also' so mounted that it can be operated from the rear end of the device where the operator is located, the operation'being preferably by manual means extending to the forward end of the machme and readily operated to effect the shifting desired, although the same may be automatically operated under a manual control, as desired.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a novel charging rotor ofthe magnetic type and'oomprlslng a (113k that 1s rotatably. mounted mpositionto charge a strip of metal gripping of the rotor with the strips may be effected upon the initial seizure thereof. These strips will also aid in maintaining a saturated magnetic condition in the rotor, should the rotor not be saturated. These strips are preferably welded to the periphery of the disk and when operating upon the strip '80 when brought into contact with its surface,- V .the surface of the rotor preferably having a effect vibrations, it is believed to destroy adherence thereof with another strip, as the same is being charged. As another feature, the invention comprehencs the idea of providing a self-cleaning device such as a scraper adapted to be resiliently engaged with the periphery of a disk in order to maintain the surface clean, at least from foreign matter.

The invention also comprehends the provision of means for supporting the roll, in charging position, such means comprising a frame rigid with the support upon which t strips may be located for charging, and locating the frame at one side from the support and preferably in the form of agoose neck eictendingfrom the forward end of the support and laterally thereof and then rearwardly, and with a portion, in the form of a head, extending over the support. The rotor is rotatably mounted in the head and the frame or end preferably has a laterally extending arm passing forwardly of the rotor to the opposite side thereof to upportone bearing therefor, the other bearing being supported in the head of the frame. In this a clearance space is provided on the opposite side of the machine whereby the operation of the poke-up bar ma-y 'be readily effected through the opening or port of the furnace withoutinterference of any Jrojecting part of the machine, the rear end of the policup bar being capable of moving in such clearance space. By placing the bracket or -m above the rotor for supporting the be on the outside thereof, space is also pro ided at the sioes of the rotor such that the operator in the pulpit at the rear end of the charger may gauge the position of the rotor with reference to the door of the furnace, the lower or charging surface of the roll being substantially on the level 'ith the hearth or fore ilate of the door.

Another feature of the invention is to provide the shifting means with magnetic mem bers and prefers. ly mounting the'mechauism to rotate about the axis of the rotor and so associated with the same as provide a suitable and given magnetic gap between the magnetic pa of the shifting leans and the magneti disks of the rotor. This mechanism may be provided with mag etic members of any desired form or shape and adapted to engage vith the surface of a strip to he carried to the rotor by the mechanism when shift-ed. These members pi vided with non-magnetic spacers so that any number members and any number of spacers may be arranged in any given order to adjust the spacing or gaps between the members, so to vary the magnetic effect thereof in accord ance with the weight of the strips to be operated upon.

Scraping mechanism may also be carried y this pick-up means so that it maybe moved at the time of shifting, and it also may con preferably operated by clutch means coi tain guard member, preferably in the form of a bar, so located that when any shifting mechanism is moved to bring strip in contact with the rotor, the bar will, be located in position to prevent the stri 'l 'l f or slapping of the trailing or end of the strip as it is being charged into the furnace by the rotor, and thus preventing the bending of the rear end of the strip. In this way an imperfect ch rg ng is prm ent As another ature of the hirer rotor construction is provided and pi'eferab v in the form of a pair of disks which may cupped and having their open ends exting toward each other and provided tl -rein vith hues which have clutching means so that one dish may drive the othcr, the c, itchmeans also having center means in order to maintain the parts co-aXial. 'lhe hubs may be of non-circular cross-sectional form or square upon which may be placed a spool with an electro-magnetic winning for energizing the disks.

The walls of the disks may be provided witn a number of grooves or channels for the locating therein of the ed to shafts respectively supported in ings in the ame and the other end of th arm rigid with the frame and forwardly of the rotor. At the sides of the rotor way be provided hubs affording bearing means for the shifting mechanism with me hers thereof rotaeably mounted upon hubs a d carrying annular bosses or rings of magnetic material and gauged to provide a space between the same and the outer faces of i disks to form magnetic gaps. By 111-" the inner hubs square or ncn-circu" be impossible to turn the spool relat rotor by reason of any inertia.

The invention also comprehends the construction of a frame wi h a head portion in which is supported a motor and the driving means from the motor to the rotor, the same being entirely encased or housed in the head of the frame.

Another feature of the invention is to provide the charger with guiding means below and above asgwell as at both sides of the strips so that when the same is being charged by the charging rotor into the furnace, the strios will be maintained in charging line. The upper guard will prevent the rising of the strip or sltelp from the charging path or if the same tends to rise, it will be engaged by the guard which will direct it back into the proper path. The lower guard similarly will. A revent the dropping of the strip and guide it back into the path of chargin Upon the support are preferably provided side gui ling means, each of which may be laterally adjusted in accordance with the Width of the strips to be used, and of which one is preferably movable and operable by manual means from the pulpit so that it may be withdrawn out of position when a new load of strips or skelp is being transferred or loaded upon the support. The guiding members at the forward end of the machine for guiding against rising or falling of the strips may also be prevent a full and correct charging of the strip in the furnace.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for transferring and loading the strips upon the support for charging. This means preferably is operated by suitable sources ofpow er upon the machine and specifically comprises endless chains adapted to receive a load of strips and carry the same laterally to supporting position upon the support, the chains forming elements of the support. Thestrips may be stopped in po sition for charging by suitable stopsat the sides of the support, the'stops being preferably adjustable depending upon thewidth of the strips being operated upon. The transfer chains may be located at spaced intervals and between the same may be. a second number of supporting means or elements in the form of a series of rollers acting as auxiliary skids. These may be. slightly lower than the surface of the chains but are located to maintain the strips in substantially level condition, but as to prevent the deflecting of the parts of the strips between the chains and also to aid in properly supporting the strips if they be warped. also be provided with means for effecting the loading of a stored amount of strips to the chains for the latter to transfer the same. Such means, specifically, may be provided with dogs pivotally supported upon the support so that when the latter'is moved along the tracks in front of the furnaces, the dogs may pass under a load or pile/of slr'elp or strips resting uponstationary'skids or rails until thezdogs pass beyond the same, and then the dogsmay spring upwardly and a reverse movement of the machine and sup port will bring the dogs into engagement withthe pile and move the same from the stationary support and against the stops.

Other features, objects, advantages and capabilities'are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The transfer means mayv 1 skids and upon the chain, skids; The travel of the latter wil then more the: pile into charging position upon the table or Referring to the drawings showing an embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a charging machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the same.

Figs. 3 and 4: are fragmentary top plan views of the machine more in detail.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the head portion of the charger and a fragmentary sectional portion of a furnace.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the machine in aplane represented substantially by line 66 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Fig. '2' is a transverse sectional View of the same taken in a plane represented substan-. tially by a line Z 7 in Fig. l of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a. transverse sectional view taken through the head of the machine and in a plane represented by line 8-8 in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

F 9 is a transverse sectional view taken through the charging rotor mechanism in a plane represented by line 99v in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Fig. 10.is a view in elevation of a part'of the same taken in a. plane represented by line 1010 in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

F 11 is a fragmentary sectional view through the charging rotor andtaken in a plane represented by line 11-11 in Fig. 8 of the drawings. I 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane represented by-line 12 12 in Fig. 13 of the drawings.

13 is a fragmentary view injend ele-- vation'of the charger roll-or rotor mechanism and showing the use of a cleaning scraper.

Fig. 14- is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 1515 in Fig. i of the drawings.

Fig. 15 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 1515 in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

And, Fi 16 is a fragmentary plan view of an end of the chain skid feature.

Referring now more in detail to the drawthe embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as'comprising an inteframe or housing 1 preferably formed froma single casting so as to form a single to the ends of a shaft 9 extending the length oft-he machine at one side thereof, the shaft at the middle thereof being connected through suitable dri mg mechanism connect ed to a driving motor 10 carried within the housing or frame 1. By driving the shaft 9 from a middle point thereof, an even or equal dr of Hie wheels 8 will be effected and thus overcome the disadvantage of driving 5 unequally by ason of unequal torsional as of unequal lengths. The wheels 7 and 8 are adapted travel over the rails 11 and 12 arranged parallel to battery of furnaces 13. At the rear end of the frame or housing 1 is suitably supported a pulpit in which the operator is located when operating the mechanism, the pulpit having a platform 15 and a seat 16 for the operator.

At the forward end of the machine is provided a rame portion or member secured rigidly with the end of the machine in any suitable manner and extending forwardly and laterally and also upwardly to form a goose neck 4 and then extending rearwardly to a head 5. The latter car ies laterally a motor 17 mounted upon a suitable bracket 18 rigid with the head 5 and adapted to drive through a set of gears 19 operating in oil in a gear housing 20. This train of gears drives a shaft 21 connected to the charging rotor 6 for rotating the same. Extending laterally from the h ad 5 and forwardly of the rotor is a bracket or arm 23 having an extending portion 24 carrying a bearing 25 for a shaft 26, the latt r being connected ri idly with the opposite side of the rotor 63. The shaft 21 has a bearing 2? carried by the gear housing and the head 5 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8, showing the charging rotor mechanism in dethe shaft 21 is secured to a gear 30 of I: echanism 19 by suitable means, 11 a key 31, and suitably supported in bearing 2'? having bushing 32. The outer end of this shaft 21 has a flange 33 bolted to a hub portion 34 of a magnetic disk f bolts 35. The flange 33 has 35, by means or coupling grooves 37 adapted to receive thereinto tongues 38 formed integral with the end of the hub 34. The end 5'? of the shaft 21 is concentric to the axis of the shaft and fits t concentric recess 59 formed in the hub pposite side the shaft 26 is tubular in a bushing 29 in the bearing inner end has a flange 39 boltec to huh portion formed upon art of the disk 42 of the magnetic T 39 has clutch it. for the reception thereinto of ribs ral with the hub 41. The end is concentric to the axis of the rotor, and fits into a recess 60 "med in the hub 41, to hold the parts coaxially.

The disks and 42 are of magnetic mate rial and of. circular form and are cuppec to provide peripheral portions 45 and 46 with the open ends of the cupped disks directed toward each other and provided with a space therebetween in which is located nonmagnetic ring 47 filling the magnetic gap between the disks. 46 of the disks 35 and 42 may provided a plurality or series of ribs and 49 located upon one disk alternately with reference to those on the other disk, or in other words, in staggered relation. These ril are lo a ct with spaces between them so that when the peripheries of the disks of the charging roll engages with the surface of a strip of metal, a self-cleaning action will be effected upon the engaged surfaces of the ribs of any foreign matter that might be adhering thereto or brought into engagement therewith from the strips or otherwise. This cleaning action appears to be effected by a forcing back of the thin film or the like, to the rear edge of the rib and into the space provided between the adjacent ribs, the foreign matter thus forced into this space accumulating therein or being cast therefrom by centrifugal force. In this way, if any oil, soot or other like and similar foreign matter adheres or tends to adhere to the engaging surfaces of the rib, it will be immediately removed and the surfaces maintained clean and neat so that a correct and efficient engagement or magnetic seizure of the strip by the rotor may be immediately effected. It is also believed that a vibration is effected in the strip so engaged so as to shape the strip loose from adhering tendencies of the other strips.

lVithin the disks are provided central hubs 50 and 51 preferably formed integral with the disks 35 and 42 respectively, and provided at the inner ends of the hubs with inter-engaging clutch tongues and grooves 52 and 53 whereby the disk 35 may drive through the hub 50 to the hub 51 and thence to the disk 42, and also to the shaft 26 which is clutched with the disk 42 by way of the hub 41. In other words the shaft 21 is clutched with the hub 34 of the disk 35, and the latter by way of the hub 50 is clutched to the disk 42 by way of the hub 51, and the disk 42 is clutched by way of the hub 41 to the shaft 26. This provides for a positive driving of all the parts.

The disks 35 and 42 are centrally apertured to receive a bolt 55 for holding the disks and hubs together as shown. Centrally within the ends of the hub is located a centering disk or ring 56, the function of which is to properly center the hubs 50 and 51 co-axially. Similarly the ends of the shafts 2i and 26 are provided with centering bosses 57 and 58 extending into circular recesses 59 and 60 formed in the outer ends of the hubs 34 and 41. In this way the driving are n aintained in co-axial relation.

The hubs 50 and 51 are preferably noncircular or square in cross-section and carry Upon the periphery and v w of the strips to be acted upon.

a spool having a winding or coil 63 having leads 64 and 65 passing through groove 66 and passages 67 and 68 to a central passage 69 providedin the tubular shaft 26, the leads terminating in connections to slip rings 70 and 71 against which engage or contact brushes 70 and 71 connected to leads 72 and 73 from a power circuit, the brushes 7 0 and 71 being .suitably insulated as is usual in such cases.

As shown in Fig. 9, the disk is also provided with other lead passages 74, 75 and 76 in the form of channels or grooves formed in the side wall of thedisk. It will be noted that the channels 66 and are located so as to receive or lead 0d the wire or lead that might proceed from a corner 77 of the spool, while the channels or grooves 74 and 7 6 are located so as to receive the wires or grooves which might proceed from the spool from the side thereof, depending upon the method of winding andrunning off the leads.

For the purpose of enabling the moving of strips successively from a pile to the charging wheel, a shifter means is provided and which comprises a pair of rings 80 and 81 rotatably supported upon bushings 82 and 83 fastened to the hubs 34 and 41 of the disks 35 and 42. These rings have rearwardly e:r-' tending portions or arms 84 and 85 carrying a cross shaft 86 to which is pivotally con nected the hub 87 of a. link 88 pivotally connected at its upper end to a lever 89 fulcrumed upon a bracket 90 secured to the arm portion 23 of the arm for supporting the outer bearing of the rotor. Depending from the shaft 86 is a pair of arms or links 91 and 92 Carrying a'sliaft 93 upon which are supported a number of magnetic contact members or blocks 94 and 95 and a number of non-magnetic spacers 96. In this structure the parts 84, 85, 91, 92, 94 and 95 are magnetic, and the parts 86, 87, 88, 93 and 96 are non-magnetic. The spacers 96 may be of any suitable thickness and of any number and may be located on either side of the members 94 and 95 so as to provide varied non-magnetic gaps between the members or blocks 94 and 95 themselves, and also between them and the arms 91 and 92. In this way the magnetic flux may be varied in accordance with the weight v The side members 84 and 85 are also preferably provided with shoulders 84 and 85 to act as limit stops for arms or links 91 and 92 should the magnetic flux of the rotor tend to draw the links the parts connected thereto, toward the rotor, thus preventing the shifting mechanism from engaging the rotor and becoming dam-. aged or damaging the rotor.

The lever 89 is secured to a shaft 100 to which is also secured-an arm 101 carrying a weight 102 acting as a'counterweight, the latter being adjustable along the arm 101 as desired. To the shaft 100 is also secured an arm 103 to; which is pivotally connected a turn-buckle link 104 which is in turn connected at its lower end pivotally to a crank 105 rotatably supported in the goose neck'4. The other end of the crank 105 is connected to a rod 106 extending rearwardly through the housing 1 of the machine and'being connected at its rear end to a lever 107 suitably fulcrumed in the frame 1 and in turn pivotal-ly connected to a .turn buckle link 108 adjusted to be operatedby a hand lever 109 fulcrumed upon a bracket 110 in the pulpit. It will be apparent from the above that when the operator pushes the lever109 forward it will efiect the lowering of the magnetic members or blocks 94' and 95 into contact with the top strip 111 of a pile 112, and a reverse movement of the lever 109 will cause. the raising of the magnetic rollers 94 and 95 and the forward end of the strip 111 into position to be engaged by the charging roller 6. As the-members; or blocks 94 and 95 are raised-with the strip 111 it will be given a forward movement toward the furnace so opposite direction before contacting with the charging wheel. The counterweight 102 will hold the shifter means in upper position until operated by the operator. v

The rings 80 and .81 are also provided with annular bosses 113 and 114 designed to lie at a given distance from the-outer faces'of the disks 35 and 42 so as to form an annular magnetic gap between each ring and each disk. It will thus be apparent that the magnetic flux set up in the disk by the energizing of the coil, 63 will pass through the gaps into the ring, and the arms '84 and 85 and the parts connected to the rollers 94 and 95 for engaging the metal strips.

The rings 80 and 81 are also provided with forwardly extending portions 115 and 116 carrying a shaft 117 which acts as a guard against which therear or tralling ends of the strip may hit-to be guided to the charging path and also to prevent the retarding of the flight of the strip being charged; When charging strips of difierent weights and different thicknesses, the strips may sag or drop more or less beyond the line of contact,

thereof with the periphery. of the charging rotor, and as the strip is being longitudinally projected bythe rotor a reflex action in the sagging or drooping portions maybe effected such that as the trailing end of the rotor, the deflected portion of the strip may be engaged by this bar and caused to be properly guided to the rotor and hence avoid the possible disadvantages above mentioned.

In the event of using a charging roller or rotor having a smooth surface 118, the shaft member 117 may support thereon a scraper 119 having a bevel 120 pressing against the periphery 118 of the charging rotor. The scraper may be supported at its lower edge into slotted members 121 and 122 and secured in place by suitable securing elements or screws 123. A spring 124 reacting between one of the members 122 and the arm 115 will constantly resiliently press the scraper 119 against the periphery 118 of the rotor. Any oiror other foreign material adhering to the surface of the rotor will be continually cleaned therefrom by the scraper. With sutficient pressure between the bevel of the scraper and the surface of the rotor, any thin film of oil or the like adhering to the rotor surface may be crowded or forced back suiiicient to be scraped off with the remainder being removed at the edge of the bevel. The shaft 117 will still function as a guard means for the rear end of the strip.

lVhen charging the strips, it may occur that the strips are not thrown in exact line but may rise or fall from their charging path or even swing laterally so that the strip may not properly enter into the furnace. In order to correct any such tendencies, suitable guard means is provided comprising an upper guard member or plate 125 secured to the side of the neck 1 by suitable brackets 126 and 127, and a lower guard member or plate 128 carried by the bracket 29 and the bracket 129 secured to the end of the frame 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Also at one side of the frame 1 may be located a number of stops 130 extending vertically upward at one side of the pile 11 of the strips. These stops are adapted to be moved or adjusted laterally of the machine by means of slot and bolt connecting means 131 of any suitable type, these stops being adjusted into proper position depending upon the particular Width of the strips being charged. On the opposite side of the pile 112 of the strips, may be placed another side guiding member 132 extending pwardly and being adjust-ably carried by means of a pin and slot arrangement upon a shaft 133 rotatably mounted in a bracket 134;

and a suitable bearing carried by the frame 1,

the other end of the shaft being connected to a crank 135 connected by a pull rod 136 having at its rear end a handle 137 and a notched portion 138 adapted to selectively engage with a latch 139. By 0p rating the handle 137 the operator may cause the lateral guide 132 to extend upwardly or to move downwardly to clear the space at the side of the pile for the charging or transferring of a new pile of strips upon the table or support of the machine. After the pile has been placed'in position upon the machine, tie guard member 132 may again be moved into upwardly e:: tending position. It adjustable along the shaft 133 for use with different widths of strip material to be charged. T he notches in the section 138 are for selectively holding the projection 132 in eith r upright position or in position to be clear of the space above the table of the machine. It will thus be apparent from the above that should the strip 111 be caused to rise or fall or even swing laterally from the normal charging path, the guides 125, 128, 130 and 132 will act to bring the strip back to its normal path and cause it to travel in the proper line into the furnace.

As the strip is cempletin its flight from the machine, it might occur that the tr iling end dips or sags, whe r from deflection in the strip or from changing position. Should this dipping or sagging be great, the trailing end may so engage or strike the lower guard 128 as to efi'ect a retarding of the flight and thus prevent a correct arri of the strip in the furnace. To c.void this, an auxiliary guard member, in the form of a bar 128 may be located ahead of the guard 128 and at a point such that as any trailing end of a strip tends to sag or incline beyond a normal path, the rod 128 will act to aright it by being engaged by the strip end portion before its arrival at the guard 128.

As before stated, the inachin. caused to travel along the rails 11 fore a battery of furnaces, by mean. the motor 10 W1 ich acts as the dri'i means for the traveling of the machine laterally. The control of the drive is by any suitable means located in the pulpit oi" the operator. The strips are usually located in piles upon stationary skids or rails at the end of the course of the machine. For the purpose of convey ing these piles to the table of the machine, suitable skid means is pri 'ded in the form of endless chains 140 operating over sprockets 11-1 and f of which the latter are secured to a driving shaf 113 suitably driven by driving gearing from an ipera A motor 1% enclosed in the housing 1. lhe sprockets 1 11 are rotatably supported by suitable shafts 145 carried by adjustable members 118 supported in lateral extensions 1 16 at one side of the machine, the members being ad justed by way of screws 14:9 to give the chains the desired tens on. The lower section of the chains may pass into channeled de 147 shaped to give clearance for the gearing of the driving motors in the housing.

When it i desired to convey a pile of strips from the stationary skids, the machine may be caused to travel over the 11 an d 12 un til the projecting portions 146 pass beneath the pile of strips and in between the stationary skids, when the machine is brought to a stop. The in this position of the machine will now lie beneath the pile. The projecting portions 1A6 are'also provided with dogs 150 pivotally supported in suitable to cesses and on the pivots 151 and have noses 152 adapted to engage with a stop lug 153 secured to the member 1 16. Springs 154 normally tend to hold the dogs 150 in upright position, but permits the dogsto return clownwardly toward the left when viewed in 7 of the drawings. When the machine has been moved to bring the projection flounder the pile of the strips, the dog 150 will hit the same and be pressed downwardly-into the recess in the part 146, until the dog passes to the other side of the pile, when the spring 151 will raise the dog. If the machine is now caused to be traveled in the opposite direction, the dog 150 will engage the pile and cause the same to slide to the end of the stationary skids and to drop upon the chains 140. Thestationary skids are usually placed with their surfaces about one-half of an inch above the to one-half inch below the top surfaces top surfaces of the chain, so that the drop of the pile upon the chain is without danger of spilling.

The driving motor for the chains 140 may ing upon the width of the strips to be used.

The continued movement of the chain will not have any effect further upon the strips but will slide under the pile until the open ator has had an opportunity to stop the motor. The operator may then operate the handle 13'. for raising the side guiding projection 132. into upright position. on the opposite side of the pile from the guide members 130.

If the strips be thin and apt to deflect between the chains 140 or if they be slightly warped, auxiliary skids are provided in the form of a series of rollers 160 arranged serially in a channel between the angle bars and 162 upon cross members 163 securedto the top of the frame 1. The top surfaces of these rows are preferably about one-quarter of the chains, so that if there be a deflecting of a portion'of the strips between the chains, the deflected portions will come to rest upon these auxiliary skids or rolls 160.. If the strips are bent or warped, and if the rolls 160 were at the same level as the chains, the rolls 160 might support the strips rather than the chains, and therefore the travel of the chains for transferring the strips toward the stops and into charging position, might not be efiected, and for this reason the top surfaces of the rolls 160 are made slightly lower than the top surfaces of the chains.

Each furnace has an opening 170 and a hearth or fore plate 171 at the lower part or threshold of the opening, the plate 171 being supported by a bracket 172'riveted'to an upright 17 3 at the front of the furnace.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, will be noted thatv the opening of the furgiiace is in the form of a segment of a circle and that the lower surface of the charging rotor orwheel 6 is substantially on the level with the threshold of the charging opening of the furnace. By having spacesnon each side of thecharging wheel, the operator a' direct line of vision from the pulpit to the ends of the opening 170 on each side of the charging rotor and may thus directly and exactly gauge the position of the machine in this manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Also by having the support for the motor for driving the rotor and the rotor to one side of the charging space, and leavmg the opposite side open and free, the man operating the poke-up bar is able to do so freely by the swinging of the rear end of the bar into the space between the rotor (S and the top of the table or support of the machine. 7 V

. In operation the machine may be caused to travel to the end'of the rails 11 and 12 where it may pick up a load or pile of strips from the stationary skids. The movement of the machine with the dogs 150 will cause the piles to move upon the chains .140. 'Uperation of the chain motor will then cause the pile to travel toward the stops 130, atwhich time the chain motor may be stopped. in the meanwhile, the operator has operated the handle 137 so as to raise the side guiding projection 132 in upwardly extending position. In the meanwhile the machine may be caused also to move along the rails 11 a- A 12 to the desired furnace to be'charged, the operator may gauge the position of th machine by the relative position of the charging roller with the end portions of the door 170 as clearly shown in Fig. (i of'the drawings. It will be understood tl the motor 1'? on the head of the inachii o is operating the magnetic charging rotor at high speed, and also suitable current-is operating in coil of the rotor to energize the same and magnetic parts affected thereby.

With the pile of strips incharging position, the operator will operate the lever 199 and cause the magnetic members and to descend and engage withthetop .strio 11 l of the pile. The opposite movement of the lever 109 will cause the'strip to move forward and upwardly toward the charging e fur same is not limited to the particular embodi" ment disclosed, but that other features, constructions, arrangements of parts and details are comprehended by the invention v-Iithout departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. In a charging device having a magnetic charging rotor, means for moving a metal piece toward the rotor and the place to which the piece is to be charged and comprising a magnetic member engageable with the piece, and means for moving said member toward the rotor while at the same time moving toward said place.

2. A device for charging metal bars into a furnace comprising a support for the bars, a magnetic charging rotor, a shifter located between the rotor and the furnace and movable to and from the furnace and also to and from the bars on the support and adapted to shift a bar toward the furnace and tmvard said rotor for engagement therewith.

8. A device for charging metal bars into a furnace comprising a movable support for thebars, a frame mounted in fixed relation to said support. a magnetic rotor carried by the frame, shifting mechanism carried by the frame between the rotor and the furnace, and

means for moving said mechanism into contact with a bar'for moving said bar toward said furnace and toward said rotor for engagement therewitl f. A charging rotor, comprising cupped disks arranged with their open ends towarc each other, non-circular hubs therein, an electro-magnetic winding on said hubs, said hubs having clutch elements whereby one hub may be driven by the other.

5. A charging rotor comprising cupped disks arranged with their open ends toward each other, a square electro-magnetic coil in said disks, and channels in the disks for selective passage of the leads from the coil from either a corner or a side thereof.

6. In a charging machine for metal pieces, a charging rotor comprising hubs, means for rotatably mounting the rotor and hubs, and shifter means rotatably mounted on said hubs and adapted to shift a piece of metal to said rotor for charging operation.

7. In a charging machine for metal pieces, a charging rotor comprising hubs, means for rotatahly mounting the rotor and hubs, shifter means rotatably mounted on said hubs and adapted to shift a piece of metal to said rotor for charging operation, and'a. magnetic gap means between said rotor and said shifter means.

8. A device for charging metal strips into afurnace, a charging rotor therefor, means for moving a strip of metal to the rotor, and guard means located adjacent the rotor for preventing the trailing ends of the strips striking the rotor.

9. A device for charging metal strips into a furnace, a charging rotor therefor, means for moving a strip of metal to the rotor, a guard connected to and movable with said strip, moving means to be brought into place to guard against the striking of the trailing ends of the strips when being charged by the rotor.

10. A charging device for metal strips, comprising a support having means whereby the support may travel sidowise, tr.=.-nsfer means on the support, dogs on the support adapted when the support is ioved in one direction to pass under a load of strips ca 'ried by storing skids and to engage and move said load of strips to remove the same from the skids and to load the strips upon the transfer means, and means for operating the transfer means for moving the strips to charging position on said support.

11. In a charging machine for metal pieces, a charging rotor havin hub of magnetic material, a non-magnetic bushing on said hub, a magnetic shifter means on said bushing and being adapted to move a piece of metal to the rotor for charging operation.

12. In a charging machine metal pieces, a charging rotor having hub of magnetic material, a non-magnetic bushing on said hub, magnetic shifter means on said bushing and being adapted to move a piece of metal to the rotor for charging operation, said shifter means and said rotor having means for provici ig a magnetic gap between said rotor and said means.

18. In. a charging machine for metal pieces, a charging rotor having a hub, means for rotatably supporting the rotor, means for driving the rotor, a bushing on said hub, and a shifter on said bushing for moving pieces to the rotor for charging.

1d. A device for charging metal strips into a furnace, comprising a support for the strips, a rotor for charging the strips into the furnace, means for moving a strip to the rotor for charging thereby, means for guiding the strip being charged, said guidi means comprising a guide member below the charging path to guard strips being charged too low, and transverse rod in the charging path ahead of the last mentioned guiding means and located to be engaged by the depressed rear end of a flying strip irregularly charged In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names to this spe 'ification.

EDGAR H. VHLSON. ROBERT W. SCHUETTE. 

